Into the Fire

Over at agent Rachelle Gardner’s blog, she discusses how to sabotage your efforts at procuring an agent. In a word she states that “negativity” can be the weapon which kills your chances in the realm of agent hunting. She then goes on to break down exactly what kinds of negativity will thwart a writer’s endeavors.

At last check, she’d received 80 responses to her post which concluded with a question about attitude. I read a few of the early comments but have no idea what the majority of responders had to say.

Negativity is a killer word. No doubt. We’ve all been around others who make it their mission to complain about every aspect of their lives and ours if we’ll allow them. Most of us have a relative who qualifies and we do our parts in keeping visits to or from this person to a minimum because it’s such a downer to be around them. It weighs and wears on us to listen to negativity.

Rachelle’s points made sense, common sense. She did allude to the networking of the publishing professionals, the availability of all “published” material on blogs or others’ sites, on Facebook, Twitter, et al. In other words realize if you happen to impress a professional with your submission, they’ll be looking you up on the internet. Be conscious of what they might find.

I found her post to be an honest assessment of establishing relationship in the publishing arena. And beyond really. Who among us wants to work with someone who has nothing but criticism for what we do? Makes no sense.

There have been a couple of times where I responded directly to an editor at a publishing house who used one too many platitudes in a post, and I admit there was bona fide snark in my commentary. He asked me to email him, and I did, and we discussed some things. I can still email him on any given day, and he’ll respond. He’s a true gentleman, and I look forward to meeting him in person one day. Another time I “confronted” an agent in a private email because I thought her post insulted a particular topic. She responded to my email and thanked me for challenging her point of view.

There are times when something posted rubs me the wrong way. Usually, it’s only when the platitudes come out about excellent writing getting published, writing “the best” story, and that kind of gibberish. While it can definitely be true, it certainly isn’t always the case.

Anyway, I don’t think I’ve written anything that would warrant being put on the “bad list”, but who knows? I’ve tried not to be negative but motivated from a place of honest observance. The industry isn’t perfect like so many other businesses aren’t perfect. And like any other business it should seek ways to improve.

So use your head. Be honest. Speak the truth in love. At your own risk.

Lord, keep our hearts pure, our mouths honest, our eyes open to our own faults above those of others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.